Chapter 1035: Parents in Law
Chapter 1035 – Parents in Law
Fiera’s smile widened. "That improves nothing."
"It is geographically precise."
Sira gave him a flat look.
Fiera tilted her head. "Not to mention the rumors around you."
Lux leaned one hip against the balcony rail. "Yes, yes. The city playboy. The rich flirt. The CEO who collects women like luxury assets although they knew nothing about me."
"Let’s assume you know how to handle her father." Fiera shook her head, still amused. "What about her mother?"
Lux paused.
That was the unknown variable.
Fathers were simple in a painful way.
They hated the man first, evaluated him second, and only tolerated him later if evidence became too inconvenient to ignore. Lux could handle that. He had survived kings, demon lords, hostile boards, jealous nobles, and Wrath generals.
But mothers?
Mothers were different.
A mother could smile at you while dissecting your entire soul and somehow make tea feel like an interrogation device.
Lux had less confidence there.
Sira noticed immediately. "Oh?"
Lux glanced at her. "Do not."
"You paused."
Fiera’s grin turned wicked. "Prince Lux Vaelthorn shaken by Naomi’s mother?"
Lux crossed his arms. Still naked behind one wing. Which undermined the authority slightly. "I have experience handling difficult people and demons."
Corvus looked at him. "Parents are worse."
Lux looked at him.
Corvus continued, "Demons want your money, soul, land, power, body, or death. Parents want intentions."
Zehar nodded gravely. "Terrifying."
Lux frowned. "I have intentions."
Sira smiled. "Do you?"
"Yes."
Fiera leaned in. "Toward Naomi?"
Lux looked at the horizon again. "I care about Naomi."
Fiera’s tails slowed.
Sira’s expression warmed, just a little.
Lux continued, quieter, "I will not insult her by walking into her family estate acting like some careless playboy who happened to enjoy her company."
Corvus muttered, "That was dangerously sincere."
Lux pointed at him without looking. "Do not ruin it."
Corvus shut up.
Lux exhaled. "Her father may dislike me. Reasonable. Her mother may question me. Also reasonable. The rumors around me are not flattering, and some of them are unfortunately based on events and my own diversions."
Sira said, "Some?"
"Many."
Fiera laughed softly.
Lux’s gaze sharpened again. "But I know difficult people. I know proud fathers. I know skeptical mothers. I know noble families that hide curses behind polite walls. I know estates that pretend a disaster is heritage."
His smile returned.
Professional.
"And if they want me face to face before giving access, then fine."
Sira looked at him carefully. "You’re sure?" Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "The last time you faced my father, it wasn’t exactly peaceful either."
Lux turned his head toward her.
For a second, they only stared at each other.
Then he said, completely deadpan, "Your father literally took advantage of me several times."
Sira blinked.
Lux continued, voice flat as a signed invoice, "So peaceful is asking too much. At this point, I’m happy enough with a professional relationship between fellow Sin Houses."
Corvus made a small choking sound.
Sira opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then looked away, because unfortunately, he was not wrong.
Lux’s smile deepened. "I can do it."
Fiera studied him. "No CFO intimidation. No Greed pressure. No seducing Naomi’s mother by accident."
Lux turned slowly toward her at the last sentece.
Fiera’s eyes sparkled. "What? It’s a valid concern."
Sira pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sadly."
Lux stared at both of them. "It might happens, but I have self-control. So hopefully, not."
Corvus coughed.
Zehar looked away with theatrical disbelief.
"Fine." Lux’s eye twitched. "I have selective self-control."
Fiera nodded. "More accurate."
Sira stepped closer and poked his chest once. "Then wear clothes."
Lux looked down. Then back at her. "I planned to."
"Before or after meeting Naomi’s parents?"
"I’m not that uncultured."
Corvus whispered, "Debatable."
Lux turned his head slowly toward the raven.
Corvus immediately looked at the sky like the sunrise had become deeply interesting.
Lux stared at him for two seconds. Then sighed.
"Let’s drop that topic for now."
Fiera hummed. "That sounds like cowardly with a tie."
Lux lifted one finger. "I will need to prepare myself then." He looked back toward the dawn, face turning more thoughtful despite the absurd situation. "This is the first time I’ll meet my parents-in-law."
There was a beat.
Then he added, more quietly, "Officially."
Sira’s eyebrow rose. "Parents-in-law?"
Lux paused.
Fiera’s tails perked up like she had just smelled scandal and dessert in the same room.
Sira stepped closer, eyes gleaming. "Oh?"
Lux realized his mistake.
Too late.
"I mean Naomi’s parents."
"You said parents-in-law." Fiera smiled brightly. "Cute."
Lux closed his eyes. "I walked into that one."
"You sprinted," Corvus said.
Sira’s smile softened, but only for a second before Pride returned to sharpen it. "Yeah, you better do well."
Lux opened one eye. "I planned to."
"We’ll judge you from this."
Lux frowned. "We?"
Fiera stepped fully onto the balcony, her tails swaying behind her like a court of very amused witnesses. "Of course we will."
Lux stared at her.
She smiled. "Remember, Lux. Naomi isn’t the only one."
Sira nodded, far too satisfied with this development. "Eventually, you’ll need to meet our parents too."
Lux went very still.
The dawn breeze passed.
Corvus slowly turned his head toward him.
Zehar smiled like an ancient lord who had found front-row seats to emotional taxation.
Lux’s eyes moved from Sira to Fiera.
Then toward the door where, presumably, Naomi was existing in sleepy danger.
Then back to the sunrise.
He imagined it.
Pride House.
Fox clans.
Sloth House.
Rava’s people.
Mira’s dragon connections.
Yue’s ancient circles.
Aela’s... tree siblings. And Ely.
Naomi’s parents were suddenly only the tutorial boss.
Lux exhaled through his nose. Long. Slow. Defeated. "I am starting to miss royal assassins."
Sira smiled sweetly. "Too bad."
Fiera tilted her head. "You collected us."
"I did not collect parents."
"No," Sira said. "They come free with consequences."
Lux huffed.
For once, he had no good answer.
And that alone made Corvus whisper, very softly, "Historic."